Win vs Beat
Win takes a thing as object — win the game/prize/medal. Beat takes a person/team — beat the opponent/them. You beat someone, you win something.
The one-line answer
Win takes a thing as object — win the game/prize/medal. Beat takes a person/team — beat the opponent/them. You beat someone, you win something.
win
verbto be first or get a prize — object is the thing you get (win – won – won)
- We won the match 3-1.
- She won first prize in the contest.
- They won the championship twice.
beat
verbto defeat a person or team — object is always the opponent (beat – beat – beaten)
- We beat them 3-1.
- She beat the world record holder.
- Nobody has beaten this team at home.
Memory trick
Ask what follows the verb: a prize/game/title → win. A person/team/name → beat. 'We won the final' and 'We beat them in the final' — both correct, different objects.
Win vs Beat: Test yourself
Question 1 of 2Our team ___ the league last year.